Stripe Webhooks Constructevent Not Working
`stripe.webhooks.constructEvent()` failing in 2026 almost always means one of three things: the raw request body is being parsed before it reaches the function (the most common cause), the webhook signing secret does not match the endpoint (using test secret for live events), or the timestamp tolerance check is failing (server clock skew beyond 300 seconds).
Why This Happens
- Configuration gaps between tools or services
- Missing integrations or manual workarounds that weren't designed to scale
- Changes in vendor behavior, pricing, or API that weren't communicated clearly
What To Check First
- Verify your current setup matches the vendor's latest documentation
- Look for recent changes — platform updates, new team members, configuration drift
- Check if the problem is consistent or intermittent (different root causes, different fixes)
When To Escalate
- The problem is costing you money or customers per week
- You've spent more than 2 hours on it without progress
- A vendor quoted you more than $500 and you're not sure if it's necessary
Dealing with this right now?
Debugging checklist: (1) Log `typeof body` in your handler — it should be a `Buffer` or raw string, not a parsed object. If it is an object, your framework's body parser ran first. (2) Compare the first 8 characters of `process.env.STRIPE_WEBHOOK_SECRET` to what you see in Dashboard → Developers → Webhooks → Signing secret. (3) Check your server's system clock — Stripe rejects events where the timestamp header differs from your server time by more than 300 seconds. Run `date -u` on your server to verify.
